Strawberry plant and fruit named ‘La Cle des Champs’

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named “La Cle des Champs”. The variety is botanically identified as  Fragaria×ananassa.  The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of properties including but not limited to: shape and lengthy leaves; fruit color and texture; and disease and temperature hardiness.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety isbotanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: La Cle des Champs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ‘La Cle des Champs’ originated from the controlled crossof the strawberry plants “SJ89244-6E” and “SJ8518-11” made in 1993.Evaluations have been ongoing since 1994. Selection criteria includewinter hardiness, fruit quality, shelf life and disease resistance. ‘LaCle des Champs’ were planted in 2002 at l'Acadie, Québec. The plots weregrown in matted rows approximately 2.5 m in length, and consisted offour replicates per variety. Evaluations were made on plants during2002-2003 growing seasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofstrawberry named ‘La Cle des Champs’. The variety is botanicallyidentified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished fromother varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth below.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The low temperature tolerance of ‘La Cle des Champs’ is high whereas in‘Jewel,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,897 (hereinafter ‘Jewel’) it is medium.The terminal leaflets of ‘La Cle des Champs’ are longer than they arebroad whereas they are as long as they are broad in ‘Jewel.’ The leavesof ‘La Cle des Champs’ have weak interveinal blistering whereas it isvery weak in ‘Jewel.’ ‘Le Cle des Champs’ is resistant to powdery mildew(Sphaerotheca macularis Wallr. Ex Fr.) and leaf scorch (Diplocarponearlina Ell. & Ev.), whereas Jewel is moderately resistant. ‘La Cle desChamps’ is moderately susceptible to susceptible to Verticillium wiltwhereas ‘Jewel’ is moderately susceptible. ‘La Cle des Champs’ ismoderately susceptible to susceptible to leaf spots (Mycosphaerellafragariae Tul. Lindau) whereas ‘Jewel’ is moderately resistant tomoderately susceptible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety,including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make in color illustrations of thesecharacteristics.

FIG. 1 illustrates the upper side of the flowers and the plant.

FIG. 2 illustrates the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 3 illustrates the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 4 illustrates the under side of the flowers.

FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 6 illustrates the fruit in longitudinal and transversalcross-sections and upper side and side of the fruit.

FIG. 7 illustrates a close-up of the fruit compared to ‘Jewel.’

FIG. 8 illustrates the leaves of the plant compared to ‘Jewel.’

FIG. 9 illustrates the fruit in longitudinal and transversalcross-sections and upper side and side of the fruit compared to ‘Jewel.’

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based uponobservations taken of plants and fruit grown in l'Acadie, Québec.Observations of ‘La Cle des Champs’ and ‘Jewel’ were taken in side byside comparison in 2002-2003 growing season. This description is inaccordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, colordescriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from thestated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors aredescribed and the most similar color designations are provided from TheRoyal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of solons. Althoughpropagation by solons is presently preferred, other known methods ofpropagating strawberry plants may be employed. ‘Le Cle Des Champs’resulted from crossing the selections ‘SJ89244-6E’ and ‘SJ8518-11’ atAAFC in Quebec. Both parent plants are unpatented, non-commercialvarieties kept at an AAFC gene bank. ‘SJ89244-6F’ is not a true Junebearing variety and produces flowers 2-3 times during the summer,contrary to the ‘Le Cle Des Champs,’ which flower only once during thegrowing season.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

‘La Cle des Champs’ is a June-bearing strawberry variety with mid-seasonflowering and maturity. Plants are globose in habit, with strong vigourand high tolerance to low temperatures. The leaves are medium green witha slightly convex profile and weak blistering. There are three leafletspresent. The terminal leaflet has a cupped profile and is slightlylonger than broad. The terminal leaflet has an obtuse shaped base andthe margin teeth are acute to obtuse in shape. The petiole has medium todense pubescence with the hairs positioned outwards. ‘Le Cle des Champs’produces many stolons which are medium to thick.

The medium to large flowers are positioned beneath to level with thefoliage. The calyx is the same size to larger in diameter than thecorolla and the inner calyx is smaller than to the same size as theouter calyx. The flower petals are touching to overlapping. The petallength/width ratio is broader than long.

The fruiting truss is semi-erect to prostrate and long. The fruit islonger than broad and ranges in size from medium to very large. Thefruit is conical in shape with slight to moderate differences betweenthe shape of the primary and secondary fruits. The achene band is mediumto broad and the fruit surface is even. ‘La Cle des Champs’ has slightlyuneven orange-red to red skin colour with strong glossiness. The achenesare inserted level with to above the fruit surface. The calyx is setabove the fruit and the calyx segments are reflexed. The calyx is thesame size as to larger than the fruit in diameter and adheres stronglyto the fruit. The fruit flesh is firm to extremely firm with an uneven,orange red colour. The fruit has medium sweetness, acidity and texture.‘La Cle des Champs’ is resistant to powdery mildew and leaf scorch. Itis resistant to Verticillium wilt and leaf spots and moderatelysusceptible to all races of Red stele.

The plants and control were two year old plants that were cultivated andmaintained as those grown commercially. ‘Cle Des Champs’ is tested inL'Acadie Quebec and also in several other areas of Eastern-CentralCanada. The data presented here is from L'Acadie Experimental Farm ofAAFC, where the winter temperature goes down to −30 degrees C., withwarm and humid summers (drought some seasons, constant rain in others).These conditions make ‘Le Cle Des Champs’ a good, stress-resistantvariety.

The dates of first and full bloom in the location of culture is 10%bloom as of June 3, with full bloom as June 7. The dates of first andlast pick in the location of culture were June 24 (1st picking date) andJuly 9 (last picking date). The typical and observed plant height anddiameter was a typical height of 22 cm-26 cm and observed height of 18cm, with a typical diameter of 16 cm and an observed diameter of 16 cm.More information regarding vigor, such as growth over a specified periodof time is not available.

The specific high and low temperature tolerance of the claimed plant wasa high of 35 C., and a low that was observed at −31 C. at the L'acadieexperimental farm (with 10 cm of straw cover).

RIIS color designations for the upper and lower leaf surfaces areRIIS137C for the upper and RHS138C for the lower. Petiole length,diameter and color with reference to the RIIS color chart included alength of 15.9 cm, a diameter 3.1 mm, and a color of RHS144B (beforebloom). Leaf length and width in centimeters or inches were 7.9 cm and6.8 cm respectively. Upper and lower leaf surface texture was fairlysmooth (interveinal blistering was weak). Leaf apex shape was rounded.Stolon length, diameter and color with reference to the employed colorchart included a length of 91-120 cm, a diameter of 2.1 mm, and a colorof faded RIIS 181A over the entire surface. Flower color with referenceto the employed color chart was pure white.

Flower diameter and depth were 2.7-3.4 cm and 2 mm respectively. Petalshape was flat globose, with a length of 1.0-1.4 cm and a width of1.1-1.6 cm, and a fairly flat apex and base. Petal number was 5.

Calyx color was RHS 138A, calyx diameter was 3.1-4.0 cm, and sepalnumber was 11. Sepal length was 1.3-1.6 cm and sepal width was 0.2 cm,while sepal overall shape was lanceolate or deltoid, including an acuteapex, broad base, and continuous margin. Pedicel length and diameter arenot available. Pedicel color with reference to the employed color chartwas RHS138A.

Length and width of primary and secondary fruit included a primarylength and width of 3.9 cm and 3.4 cm respectively, and a secondarylength and width of 3.4 cm and 2.9 cm respectively. Color with respectto the employed color chart for the fruit skin and fruit flesh wasRHS44A & RHS 46A (skin) RHS44A (flesh) respectively. Achene color wasRHS150C. The fruit has a % brix of 7.7 to 9.4.

TABLE 1 Total yield, fruit weight and ripening season of ‘Clé desChamps’ and comparison genotypes at the L'Acadie site. Total yield^(z)Wt./fruit^(z) Ripening Genotype (g.m⁻¹) (g) season^(y) Hardiness Kent2821.5 a 10.42 b EM Very hardy Clé des 1633.3 ab 12.88 a M Very hardyChamps Jewel 1390.8 b 10.85 ab M Less hardy LSD 1213.7  2.42^(z)Averaged over 4 replicates from two field second year plantings(2003-2004), data taken from a 1 meter long representative portion of a2 meter matted row (width 50 cm). ^(x)EM = Early midseason, M =midseason,

TABLE 3 Groups of phenolic compounds (ppm) and antioxidant property ofJewel vs Clé´des Champs grown at L' Acadie site in 2003. Hydroxy- Antho-cinnamic Flav- Ellagic Benzoic Genotype cyanins acids onols acids acidsTotal Clé´des 114.46 b 5.88 fg 4.48 f 2.63 fg 27.19 d 154.64 b ChampsJewel 140.21 a 4.34 gh 6.40^(c) 2.62 fg 15.60 g 169.17 a LSD_(0.05) 6.51 1.68 0.89 0.36  1.55  6.68 Groups of phenolic compounds werequantified as follows: ellagic acids as ellagic acid, benzoic acids asgallic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids as p-coumaric acid, flavonols asquercetin-3-galactoside, and anthocyanins as cyanidin-3-galactoside.Values followed by the same letter are not significantly different.

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially asshown and described.